This made sense during that war when we were sending food to other countries. But, when the war ended, the U.S. unexpectedly stopped its policies to help farmers. As a point of interest I saw an article that document what the government paid farmers during and after the war. It's important to keep in mind that during the war the government was paying farmers roughly $2 a bushel for wheat and after they government urged farmers to obtain debt the war ended and the government paid farmers only .67 cents a bushel. Farmers, most of who had been on their land for generation of their families, fell into debt and were given no assistance from our government.
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In, To Kill a Mockingbird, the socioeconomic status of the white community is depicted with the Finch family as the upper-class. Addicus Finch is the 2nd generation of a plantation owner who is also educated as a lawyer. Although, due to the conditions in the America, he is not considered well-off, though he can still afford to hire the family maid Calpernia. The second-tier in Maycomb is shown by the Cunningham family, who are struggling but they did their best and were proud. The Cunninghams send their children to school, as apposed to keeping them home to work in the field, and refuse to accept welfare or help from the town. If they could not pay their debt with money they sent food and livestock instead. The Ewells portray the lowest rung on the socioeconomic ladder. The Ewell father, Robert Lee, drinks and doesn't take proper care of his seven children. The family lives by the dump - close to the black section of town, the Quarters -- and makes its living by scowering the dump for items they can use. The children only attend school on the first day. The father and children do not speak well and curse.
The black community is represented first by the Finch's maid, Calpurnia. She is one of four parishioners in her church that could read and write.
